Most of the bands I love have either dead band members or have split up. Or even worse, both.

This year one of the bands that I adored with every fibre of my being split up. I never got to see them live, but every album they put out holds greats significance to me.

Silverchair were and always will be such a special band to me. In college I had a rucksack that I covered in black marker with bands I loved written all over it. Silverchair was one of them, and I think I had some of the lyrics to Emotion Sickness scrawled over it too.

Neon Ballroom without a doubt is one of my favourite albums ever made. Every single song on the same could break your heart, but at the same time gives you this weird strength to just carry on.

The time in my life that I first listened to Silverchair was, well, shit basically. Certain songs were an emotional crutch because I knew no one around me could begin to get it. This wasn’t your standard teen angst, it was something else. However, if I could go back in time I wouldn’t change a thing at all. If I was to, I probably wouldn’t hold this much love and respect for bands such as Silverchair.

Daniel Johns’ words settled my internal rage in a way no other band could, or has done since. Certain songs made it easier for me to accept the strong dislike I had for myself. Certain songs made breathing less difficult. Certain songs were my life.

With a lot of bands, they go on about self hate and anger because they want to seem “cool.” There is nothing cool about being angry or hating yourself. Anyone who has felt this way about themselves knows it is the most self destructive and exhausting thing you can do to yourself. Daniel Johns’ lyrics came right from the heart which is probably why they captured mine instantly.

Songs such as Do You Feel The Same, for me just summed up so much. “Moon covered determined to find. To find my place of hiding. Try to detach, try to decrease. To make it easier on me. Despise myself for what you’ve done. Sent me back into my world. Hold yourself ’cause no one will. I’ll make it easier” It meant the world to me when I first heard it, and it still does now. The frustration in his voice when he sings this song just leaves you in awe.

Then you have songs such as Miss You Love, “I love the you love. But I hate the way I’m supposed to love you back.” It’s easy to accept love, but loving someone back can rid you of so much. An easy thing to feel.

Ana’s Song (Open Fire) is about Daniel’s battle with Anorexia. Eating disorders have always been a subject people never touch on. Maybe if they did, people would not have to suffer as much as they do. Of course, there is this misconception that it is only girls who suffer from eating disorders. Hearing of Daniel’s struggle with Anorexia in this song is beyond heartbreaking.

The metaphors who uses and the imagery he creates is so painfully accurate and at times, extremely hard to listen to. I’ve had people that were/are close to me go through having an eating disorder, and hearing this songs just echoes how they felt and their fight with having an eating disorder.

“And you’re my obsession, I love you to the bones. And ana wrecks your life, like an anorexia life.” I’ve never heard a line so powerful. I could go into detail about this line, but when you hear Daniel sing this song, especially this line- you do not need words to describe it. The feelings from him that pour out just explain it all.

They released their first album, Frogstomp when they were only 14 years old. Each album just turned out to be works of art- knowing they were so young when their first record came out is utterly mind-blowing.

Neon Ballroom is so passionate and aggressive. Every song just pours out so much frustration, at others and at self. If it wasn’t for this album, I think being a teenager would’ve been worse than it was, if possible. The drums, bass and guitar sound so menacing complimented with Daniel’s harsh yet soothing voice.

There’s no way I could possibly pick a favourite track off this masterpiece, every single song means so much, too much.

It is such a timeless and highly influential album. I listen to it now, and although I do associate the album with some shit times- it’s been worth it.

Maybe Silverchair will never get back together and make music again, but all 5 of their albums means a lot. Even Young Modern.

I’ve always felt that the band has been so awfully underrated. Each of them is outstanding musicians. I watch live clips of them and seeing Daniel play the guitar like that is so ridiculously powerful. The love in their performances is just amazing. They had this raw feel to them that doesn’t exist in many bands anymore. It is more than a shame that they are no longer together, but with their back-catalogue, they will always be around.

For me, Neon Ballroom was the blueprint of being a teenager for me. It was like a rite of passage or something. Listening to it as a teenager and now as a 24 year old, I still feel the same. The feelings that Neon Ballroom creates is for the most part, highly indescribable. Extremely personal and a fantastic work of art. It will always be album that I rely on and feel a lot for. There were days listening to it would hurt, there were some days where listening to it would just make everything alright. I guess, that’s why music is such a powerful, personal and vital force.